Building structure



June 23, 1936; w w AIER 2,045,482

BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 22, 1935 ZShets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. H fllliayiazz M/Vdz'az:

I June 23, 1936.-

w. w. .MHAIIER 7 2,045,482 BUILDING STRUCTURE 2 shts-sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22. 1935 INVENTOR. jd elik'zzyfon Mfl/dz'er ATTORNEY5.

Patented June 23, 1936 UNITED- STATES,

PAT NT OFFICE Y 2,045,482 nmnmc, smuo'rnna Wellington W. Maier, Detroit, Mich. Application August 22, 1935,;Serial No. 37,283

I 8 Claims. The present-invention relates to building structures and more particularly to improved veneersv or finishes for the exterior walls of such structures. I

It is an object of the present invention to provide' a building structure embodying an improved veneer or exterior finish which may be readily and economically applied to a building structure.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved structure, as above statprovide an improved veneer structure which nay embody a metal lath of either a self-supportng character or of a character which require LdditiOllEl-l supporting elements."

It is a further object of the present invention ;0 provide improved supporting elements for metal lath of the last mentioned type which may re economically formed and which may be readiy applied to the'frame'of the structure. i It is a further object of the present'invention 0 provide an improved form of metal lath, havng a preformed contour to meet the desired exerior finish,'and which may be applied directly 0 the frame structure.

It is a further object of thepresent invention 0 provide an improved construction of metal lath s last mentioned, embodying a plurality of in- Iardly struck tongues, through which the plasering-or other surfacing material may be trowled to provide a firm support for the plastering r other'surface material.

It is a further object of the present invenion to provide animproved metal lath as last ientioned in which the inwardly struck tongues re struck in alternately opposite directions, so bat the plastering or other. surfacing material ray be trowelled in either direction.

Other objects and advantages of the present onstruction appear in the following description nd in the appended claims.

In the drawings, throughout the several views E which corresponding reference characters are sed to designate corresponding "parts:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view in side elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

' Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of a preferred form -of supporting bracket for use with the construction of Fig. 1;

'Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the supporting bracket of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view in front elevation of a modified form of supporting bracket which may be used with the'structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view in side elevation of a modified embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view taken along the "lines 1-! of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view in side elevation of a second modified embodiment of the present invention.

In its broader aspects, the present invention is directed to an improved-form of veneer or surface construction for building structures which may be used advantageously in the construction of veneers or surfaces of either regular or irregu-,

lar contour, and finished with either plastering or a variety of other surfacing materials. In a 'more restricted sense, the present invention is directed to an'improved construction of veneer or surfacing adapted to form irregular contours to simulate, for example, log structures.

In accordance with one illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the veneer or surfacing parts of thestructure may be applied directly to the sheathing and comprise generally a series of a supporting brackets, metal lath, and plaster or other surfacing material. The supporting brackets are adapted to be readily attached, as by nailing, to the sheathingof the building structure, and are shaped to conform in general to structure and form supports for metal lath, to which, in turn, the plastering or other surface material is applied directly in the conventional way;

A feature ofthe present construction is its adaptability to the use of metal lath of a selfsupporting ora non-self-supporting character.

Withthe use of a self-supporting metal lath, the

' metal lath may be secured directly to'the supporting brackets, and the rigidity of the lath itself relied upon to support it throughout the spans between the brackets. brackets introduces a series of ribs into the metal lath, which stiffen and strengthen it. In-using metal lath of a non-self-supporting'character, the supporting brackets of the prwent construc-. tion are adapted to support a plurality of reinforcing rods, which extend between the brackets of the respective columns and form auxiliary supports for the metal lath. Whether the metal lath is self-sustaining or not, it may be desirable to employ the reinforcing rods so that the surface material which is troweled in place may sustain such material even after the metal lath has rusted out. I

The brackets themselves may either beformed in separate units, each unit corresponding, for example, to one log of the building, or may be formed so that a single bracket comprises a series of similar configurations. The brackets in either arrangement are preferably of channel shape, to provide improved strength thereof. Each bracket is preferably provided with a series of outwardly struck tongues, to which the metal lath or the reinforcing rods are connected and supported. 7

In accordance with a second illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a preformed rigid metal lath is employed, which is secured directly to the sheathing or the frame members, and which dispenses with the previously mentioned supporting brackets. In accordance with this embodiment, the lath is given an initial curvature-to correspond to the final desired contour of the structure. One or more transverse ribs may be formed in the metal lath along the length thereof to provide increased rigidity to maintain such original curvature. The lath may be formed from plane sheets, having a series of inwardly struck tongues which leave openings through which the plaster or other surfacing material may be forced to securely support such material on the lath. A feature of the present construction is the arranging of the tongues in oppositely directed .alternative relation, so that the material may be trowelled in either direction to force the material through the openings.

As will be'evident from further description, the plastering or other surfacing material may comprise a single coat, the exterior of which is trowelled to producethe desired appearance. Alternatively, an initial coat may be applied to the lath, and thereafter a. finish coat applied, the exterior of which is trowelled to produce the desired final appearance.

In addition tojconveniently providing for any desired irregular contour for the surface, the supporting brackets, which hold the lath in spaced relation to the sheathing, provide a dead air space, which, as will be understood, acts to insulate the structure.

Considering the above constructions in more detail, and referring more particularly to Figs. 1 through 4, an illustrative building structure comprises the studs III to which the sheathing l2 may be applied in any conventional manner, as by nailing. If desired, and in accordance with usual practice, tar paper If or its equivalent may be secured to the exterior of the sheathing [2. The improved veneer or surfacing of the present invention comprises the plastering l6, supported upon the metal lath 18 which in turn is supported The curvature of thestructure.

on sheathing l2 by the brackets 2|! and the reinforcing rods 22. I

. Each bracket 20 comprises an arcuately formed intermediate portion 24 and the end portions 26, which are preferably flat and provided with nail holes. The intermediate portion 2| is preferably formed of channel shape to provide increased rigidity of the bracket. A plurality of outwardly struck tongues 28 provide a convenient support" for-the reinforcing rods 22.

The brackets 20 may conveniently be nailed .directly to the sheathingv l2, preferably at points corresponding to positions of the studs l0, and in erected position, constitute a plurality of parallel supporting columns. Preferably, the arrangement is such that the connecting portion 26 of a lower bracket 20 is positioned between sheathing l2 and the corresponding lower connecting portion 26 of an upper bracket. It will be understood that'in the finished structure, the weight suspended from each bracket tends to rotate the latter in a direction to move the top of the bracketoutwardly from the building. With the just stated relation, however, the top of each bracket is supported in an inward position by succession of spaced supporting portions 32 separated by curved portions 34, whichcorrespondrespectively to the supporting portions 26 and curved portions 24, described in connection with Figs. 2 and 3. In all other respects, the continuous bracket of Fig. 5 may correspond to the individual bracket above described.

As previously .mentioned, the reinforcing rods 22 are preferably suspended from the tongues 28 of the brackets 20, where it is desired to use a relatively light grade of metal lath IS. The reinforcing rods 22 may be laid directly upon the tongues 28, which may thereafter be bent inwardly somewhat to secure rods 22' in position. The light metal lath l8 may be supported directly on rods 22, and are preferably secured in place by wire clips passed through the lath and around the reinforcing rods. Alternatively, where metal lath of a self supporting character is used, the reinforcing rods 22 may be dispensed with and the lath secured directly to the supporting brackets, the tongues 28 cooperating directly with the lath. With either arrangement, the irregular contour of the surface introduces a series of parallel ribs in the metal lath, which increase the rigidity thereof and prevent collapsing of the lath between the successive columns of supporting brackets.

With either of the above described alternative arrangements, the assembly comprising the metal lath and the supporting brackets provides a support which preferably corresponds somewhat closely to the desired final exterior contour of the building, and to which the plastering l6 may be applied directly and in the usual manner. The resulting structure may thus be laid up in a relatively simple manner and provides a neat appearance accurately simulating any desired construction.

Referring particularly to the embodiment shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the metal lathing comprises a series of similar preformed elements, having the generally arcuately shaped portions 40, and the flat connecting portions 42, and each of which corresponds, for example, to one log of the Each metal lath element is preferably formed of relatively heavy gauge metal so that ii is entirely self-supporting, and may be nailed or otherwise secured directly to the sheathing l2, dispensing with the supporting brackets and reinforcing rods previously described. The series of openings 48, formed by striking the tongues 46 inwardly, provide a series of openings through which, as will be understood, the plastering or other material may be forced in the usual way, to firmly secure. such surfacing material to the lath. A feature of the present construction is the strik ing inwardly of the tongues 46 in alternately opposite directions, so that the troweling may be done in either direction. It has been found in practice, with reference to Fig. 8, that a downward troweling movement is effective to trowel sufficient plaster or other finishing material behind the lath 40, at points adjacent each of the lugs 46a, but that an upward troweling movement does not force sufiicient of the material behind the lath at such points. The tongues 461), however, being struck in a direction opposite to tongues 46a, receive the plastering during the upward troweling movement. With the alternate arrangement, 'acordingly, the troweling may effectively be done in both directions. This, as will be evident, facilitates the plaster or other finishing operation.

As previously mentioned, and with reference to Fig. 9, the plastering or other finishing material may be laid up on the metal lath l8 ina single coat or alternatively, may be laid up in a first coat, and a later applied second coat, the exterior of which is tooled to produce the desired final appearance. Y

Although specific embodiments have been described, it will be evident that various changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A building structure comprising, in combination, a supporting structure, a plurality of brackets secured to said structure in spaced relation and each havinga predetermined curvature, a plurality of reinforcing rods extending between said brackets and supportingly engaged thereon, metal lath supported on said reinforcing rods and brackets so as to follow the curvature of said brackets, and a flnishmaterial applied to said lath. 2. In a building structure, having a finish material supported from the structure on metal lath,

means for supporting the metal lath in spaced relation to the structure comprising a plurality of brackets of predetermined curvature secured to the structure, and reinforcing rods extending between said brackets and supportingly engaged thereon.

3. A supporting bracket for use in securing metal lath to a building structure and for giving said metal lath a predetermined curved contour comprising a channel-shaped member bent longitudinally to conform to said curvature and having substantially coplanar end sections extending 5 beyond said bend and adapted for connection to the building structure. 4. 'A supporting bracket for use in supporting metal lath in spaced relation to a building structure and for, giving said metal lath a'predeter- 10 mined curvature, comprising a bracket formed of channel shape and having a. plurality of similarly curved portions along its length, and portions between said curved portions adapted for connection to said structur l5 5. Ina building structure, a preformed metal lath for supporting a finish material and for giving the structure a desired external contour, formed of relatively heavy gauge metal, having a curved intermediate portion to conform to said desired curvature, edge portions adapted to be secured to the building structure, and a plurality' of surface openings formed by striking tongues inwardly from said surface in diiferent directions. 25

6. In a building structure, a preformed metal lath for supporting finish material upon the structure and for giving such finish material a desired contour, comprising a curved central portion conforming to said desired curvature, fiat 3 edge portions adapted to be connected to the building structure, and a plurality of surface openings formed by.striking tongues inwardly from said surface in different directions.

7. In a building structure, in combination, a 35 supporting structure, a plurality of relatively rigid brackets of predetermined curved contour, each of said br'ackets comprising a longitudinally arched channel member and having sections adjacent said arch adapted for connection to said 40,

building; attaching lugs struck outwardly from said arch portion; a plurality of reinforcing rods extending between said brackets and supported on said lugs; and metal lath supported on said re- I inforcing rods and following the curvature of said brackets.

8. In a plastered simulated log or like structure, means for supporting the plaster in spaced relation to a wall of the building and for giving said plaster the simulating curvature, comprising a 60 plurality of metallic members each having an arch intermediate the ends thereof, and end sec tions extending at each end of said arch, said end sections being adapted for attachment to said wall and defining areas simulating spaces between adjacent logs or the like.

WELLINGTON W. MAIER. 

